Do I need a coop?

[chrisxweaver]

I have a 6ftx6ft metal dog kennel that I am using for my 4 chickens about 3 weeks old and I've put 1 foot of chicken wire on the bottom all the way around and chicken wire on top with a tarp over it. But my question is do I need a coop I made nesting boxes for when they get older and am waiting to put them in but so far everything I've needed for my chickens I've made I live in California so I don't get bad weather it's 75-85 durning the day and 50-60 early in the mornings and I have a heat lamp out side and they don't even huddle under it cause there not cold and I don't have any real predators but cats and I haven't seen any even have a interest in them. It never really rains or gets stormy where I live but do I really need a coop? Also during the summer time here it gets HOT like 110-115 degrees what do I do with my chickens then?

 

[Ljc01]

You don't need a coop, in the traditional sense of the term. I also live in Calif where we never get any real weather. I also have a dog kennel. What I did was put up roosting bars in the back of the kennel, used 5 gallon buckets for nesting boxes and just put the feeders and waters on paving stones to keep them off the ground.
I covered the kennel with tarps to keep everything dry and warm. When it rains, I just use another extra large tarp to make sure the rain doesn't get in.

 

[Folly's place]

Lj, your pen sound fine, except for predator protection. Sooner or later bad critters will arrive and enjoy killing your birds. It would be best to add a lot of hardware cloth to keep out the little guys. Mary

 

[Ljc01]

The bottom is protected by brick that is cemented in place. The roosts are placed so the birds sleep in the middle of the kennel. I only really need to watch out for hawks when
they free range.

 

[PeepersMama]

I would put a solid roof on it, but it sounds like what you've got is pretty good